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Bath City and Basingstoke Town played out a desperately disappointing goalless draw at Twerton Park this afternoon. Neither goalkeeper was called into serious action throughout, and there was precious little entertainment to enthuse the largest home crowd of the season.

The first quarter of the game passed without incident, both sides struggling to impose any authority on proceedings and the first opening arrived on 24 minutes. Andy Gallinagh, switched into the left back position following the departure of Kevin Nicholson, found some space 25 yards from goal, but his shot drifted over of Aaron Howe’s crossbar.

The game once again degenerated into a period of mundane midfield stalemate, not helped by some fussy and, at times, ludicrous decisions by the referee, Mr. Anthony Coggins of Banbury. However, Gallinagh again provided a threat five minutes before the break, the City skipper weaving his way into the Town box, but succeeding only in scuffing his eventual shot straight at Howe.

Basingstoke responded with their first effort at goal on 44 minutes, when Shaun McAuley’s rising shot was blocked by Matt Coupe with Mr. Coggins waving away muted appeals for handball and a penalty kick. The hosts broke away immediately with Nick McCootie finding space down the right, but he delayed his inside pass to the unmarked Jon Davies, and the chance was lost.

The half time whistle brought a sense of relief to those on the terraces, with the hope that things would improve after the resumption.

City did emerge with greater urgency playing towards the Bath end and, in the 49th minute, Frankie Artus headed straight at Howe after meeting Davies’ cross from the left. McCootie then picked the ball up midway inside the Basingstoke half and ran at the defense, but dragged his shot wide from 20 yards.

The visitors began to gain an increasing share of the possession but were making little impression on City’s rearguard. Harrison Gilkes tried his luck from distance after 57 minutes, only for his shot to fly well over Steve Phillips’ crossbar.

On the hour mark Ashley Kington’s free kick from 25 yards was deflected behind for a corner off the Basingstoke defensive wall and, three minutes later, Davies cut inside from the left, only for his well-struck shot to curl narrowly wide of the far post. Hemmings also saw his stabbed shot from the edge of the box pass comfortably wide of the target.

The Dragons almost grabbed an unlikely lead in the 67th minute when a ball into the box looped into the air, and Louie Soares rose highest to head against the base of Phillips’ post, the keeper gratefully gathering the rebound.

Andy Watkins came on for McCootie on 70 minutes, and then Dan Bowman and Danny Barrow replaced Sekani Simpson and Davies respectively nine minutes later. Despite these changes, City still failed to create any clear-cut openings. The closest they came to finding a winner was after 85 minutes, when Dave Pratt’s persistence resulted in Kington bursting into the box, but his low angled shot was turned round the near post by Howe at the expense of a corner.

Perhaps the best chance of the match fell to Soares deep into stoppage time, when he nearly benefited from a poor clearance by Phillips and a rare mistake from Coupe. However, with an unguarded goal at his mercy, the midfielder struck his shot well wide from at least 35 yards out.

The whistle sounded after four minutes of stoppage and brought an end to a hugely drab encounter that was sadly devoid of inspiration on the day. It is difficult to find any positives in the performance of either side, and it is true to say that the general quality of play on offer was suitably matched by the officiating of Mr. Coggins.

A very fair report, with, as usual, some excellent descriptive writing. Davies's shot did actually 'shave' the far post. I was directly inline with his shot and thought it might go in, until it skimmed off the post.